Employed by the ocean

The dream is over. Since April the mobilesurfdoc is not mobile any more. I am back slaving away in a University hospital. Time to buckle down and work on my ENT career. Now, it depends on the way you look at it if the mobilesurfdoc project has been a success or not. Financially, we spent … More Mobilesurfdoc – The Wrap Up

Australia is the lucky country, no doubt. Being born there seems to come with a certain attitude. When Americans, Europeans or Latin Americans talk about their surfing life they usually make it sound as if they are really good surfers charging serious waves. When Australians talk about their surfing life it sounds as if they … More Western Australia – A Surfdoc’s Paradise

Surfer’s Eye Mexican surfers are great. They’ve supported the Know-Your-Ears Project and wanted to know everything about it. But the first part of the conversation was often pretty confusing. When I told them I do research on the “oído de surfistas” they smiled and corrected me saying, “oído” means ear but that I probably meant … More Surfer´s Eye

You might think I worried too much. The G-Land surfer was walking and looking through pictures 8 hours after what happened. Do you really need a helicopter for that? If this patient was brought to a hospital he would certainly spend a few hours probably the night on an intensive care unit. First of all, he … More Drowning: How you actually save a life

I had waited for that day. Everybody got barreled. Everybody. Stand-up pits in turquoise water, light offshore winds, and a good crew in the water. But I did not even get to paddle out that day. In fact, I did not even get wet that day. Well, apart from by my own sweat that is. … More The day I hated my job as a surfdoc

When I started the Know-Your-Ears Project in Mexico I did not know about Dr. Hetzler. Not for long. Surfers kept telling me about this doctor from Santa Cruz, THE doctor for Surfer’s Ear surgery. Many didn’t remember the name but every surfer from California had heard about this guy who uses a chisel to get … More Chisel it like Hetzler

A Needlefish is not the first thing on my monsters-of-the-ocean-list. Well, maybe it should be. This is a case report of a vicious needlefish attack on Fiji. Since we could not afford another boat trip to Cloudbreak my wife and I went for a swim just in front of our hotel at Nadi Beach. I … More Needlefish – And you thought sharks are dangerous

Sometimes there is no way around the surgery. The bone in the ear canal has grown over many years and there is no way of making it grow back. As soon as your quality of life is severely impaired because your ear is troubling you it is time to see an ENT specialist. Symptoms can … More Surfer’s Ear: Operation Techniques and Complications

I was sitting in the lineup at Nine Palms, Baja California Sur, early in the morning. Matt (name changed) had just paddled out, an experienced surfer, 60 years of age. Soon I overheard him say to his friend: “I am not feeling well!” His friend asked what’s wrong. “I have a terrible headache and my … More Emergency in the Lineup: Confused Surfer with Sudden Neck Pain

So, I checked out your ears, showed you a video of your ear canal and said you had Surfer’s Ear. What now? First of all, relax. Surfer’s Ear is not dangerous. It is not a disease, it is a condition. In other words: an anatomical special feature. But it might cost you a few surf … More I have Surfer’s Ear, what should I do?